Reserve tank control



Feb. H2, i935. G, A, JOHNSON 1,990,604

RESERVE TANK CONTROL Filed Nov. 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INI/EN 0R.

Feb. 12, 1935. G. A. JoHNso'N 1,990,604

' RESERVE TANK CONTROL Filed N ov. 18, 1951 l2 sheets-Sheep 2 INVE TOR.

*ll vl fil/49% wwf/laf PatentedFebnl'Z, 1935 w Iiiyle.E. Stant an Ind. ,l

Param 0eme,

v '1,990,604 RESERVETANK CONTROL i Glen A. Johnson, Connersville, Ind.,` assignor to d Ivan H. Stant, Connersville,

`Applicaiiml November 1s, `1931, serial No. 575,778 1i claims. (ci. 15s-46.5)

s This inventionrelates especially 4to that class j of device or apparatuswhich'warns theoperator of an internal combustion enginetthat the supply l 1 l of fuel for the engine is runninglow or has .become 5 exhausted, and',A pending a replenishment of this supply,lrenders a supply, which has been held in reserve', availablefso that the engine may be operated for a sufficientperiod of time to enable the operator` to have the Amain supply replenished.

Many devices of thisgeneral type have been invented, but, in"` each 'oi these devices the act of conditioning `the parts, both to ill the main and reserve supply as well as to supply availableafter the main each independent ofthe other.

j vention herein described, has

render the reservej supply has become exhausted, necessitate two or more operations,

However, the in for an object `the simplification of devices of this type so that they not only contain fewer parts, but also so that they, 0 may bel operated withj materially fewer manipulations which are more-naturally performed `than those of devices oi ammore complicated nature.

' In previous liquid reserve supply devices as disclosed in .the art, the liquid reserve chamber once lled, remains unused until an emergency arises. In such devices,the reserve liquid ycan. remain -in the reserve chamber for a great length of time and thereby los'ea portionof its original strength s or its physical properties vcanchange to the extent that it may not be usable in an emergency. my

yjjconstruction it is obvious that introduced into the main tank, any yliquid that 'may be stored in the reserve tank is automatically each time liquid'is emptied and afresh supply substituted therefor.

Another object of this invention isthe'self contained valve rnechanismfwhichLcan-b'e instantly removed forlexamination and'repair.`

. These and other objects are attained in the reserve liquid supply device describedin the following specification and illustrated in the accom- `panying drawings, in which:

' Fig. 1 is a side sectional view `withrnyimproved reserve supply device and constructed for cooperation therewith, the device being shownin `closed condition.

Fig. 2 is a view transversely 'of the tank as shown in Fig. 1, taken ,on the line 2-2 thereof, andlshowing the supplyclevicefin opened condition.

Fig; 3 is an enlarged sectional view of `one forml i of the movable portion or stopperfof the supply' device embodying my invention.` v

Fig. l is a sectional view of another form of the movable portion or stopper of embodying my, invention. l. Fig; 5 is' a sectional View of st ther supply device ill anotherk form o stopper, by means of whichcontrolof both illing; i

plained. These respective seats 17 and s' 2() are a tank equipped.

l notched the depending inner angeat thev top of the tube, at points ofleast inclination of the lockand 13, aswell as an inner bottom 14, Asuch walls '10 fand bottom being spaced fromlthe wallsof the `main tank 11 to .enclose a materially smaller space .forming atankl` enclosing the reserve supply.`

.The opening toboth the main and reserve supply tanks is' through the top wall 16 which is vcomrrionto both tanks. In the bottom 14 of the Yreserve tank, is anoutletopening provided with y wan 'annular valve seat 17 which makes of 'the `opening aportlS through whichl the tank 11 ref ceives its main aswell as reserve supply.` Connecting the yopeningin thetop 16 with the port in the bottom 14h is, a tubel 19' whichfis provided at its top -withan inturne'd ange forming a valve Vseat 20 'anden' its depending inner edge within-7,` clined locking faces 21 bymeans ofjwhich the .ller'cap is secured, 'as will be explained. Tube 1 19 at its lower end, above seat 17 and communicating with the interior of ,reserve tank 15 close to `its bottomis ,provided'withja series of .openings i .30

22 which permit'of filling andemptying the reserve tank as 'will be explained. We now come to a general description of the' filler top. and valve mechanism comprising" the and emptying ,functions lof both main and reserve 4tanks are obtained; First'of all Icall attention to the presence of the two valve seats located at oppositeends of `the-tube19, as has beenex` closedby respective valves 23a and 23 which are 0 carried in spaced relation on a stem `25`on the upper` end of which a cap 26 is mounted formanipulation of the valvesas vwelll as to afford an ornamental covering for `the upperend of tube v 19. l Asia means forr closing the valves tightly upon the seats, I have provided a locking'member, 2F1`which is. located on the stem 25 adjacent the'valve 23 and haslugs 28 and 29 extending therefrom for engagementwith the inclined locking faces 2l. To permitfthe stopper comprising the valve stem Vand the`valves` carried thereby, to be lifted andremoved-from the seats and tube 119for the purpose of ,filling the tanks, I have ing faces 21, as shown at 30 and 31 on Fig. 6,

thereby permitting lugs 28 and 29 to pass in lifting the stopper from the tube 19. To prevent the stopper being turned too far in its locking movement, I have provided stops 32 and 33 as end extensions on the inclined flanges 21, against which the stopper lugs 28 and 29 engage when the stopper has been moved to fully sealed position.

In"Figs'3,-4 and`5 specific stopper constructions are shown. The stopper of Fig. 3 is a desirable form of stopper. this construction, as well as thosetshownrin Figs. 4 and 5, are protected from damage in manipulation by equipping the stem 25'with,abell,shaped shield 34 at its lower endandbyliaving'the cap 35 act as the shieldat its upper end. The valves in the stopper constructionfare.otiyielding; resilient or spring type so that closure of. the tanks is effective and also that the stopper may beheld ..instpppepositionwhen in.place..asshownr in Fig. 1. In this instance,.ea.ch valveis of .thesame s construction. ,.Yalve..23aconsistsiof a. gasket 36 ...whichisbacked by; a Vresilient spring.\metal disk 25 3'7 and is held. for..freelmovement onstem25 by ,-ascrew. 38. j Valve 23 is .mounted on. a shoulder of cap 35, for freemovementibetweenit andlock- .inglmember,27and.consists.of.agasket 24 backed [,byaresilientmetalsdisk .39. Fig. 4, is a construc- .oggtionsimilar tolthat just.described,.but, inlieuof .'Lthe. resilient ,disksof Fig. 3, Lhavefprovided for .Linherentlyrigdnisks and. have .allowed .fortaxial movement-c1the .\rigid.rnetal-, disks .on .the stem,

.with'aabackingconsistingr of .the .coil .springs 40 ad'AOa. IIn'EgeV 5..isl`sl1own.astoppery providing noresilientmounting of, either. valve. lnlieu, of this theJshieldAll has. been provided with. aiseat .142 vv\to supportthe. ,pressure` of, seat. l'L againstfthe Easket;43, whilecap 44 is provided witha. seat.45 e340 ltoisupnortlthepressure of seat' 20 against gasket ",Itis common` practice tovent fueltankseither jthrollkh the. `top Aof the ,tankwall or through the Iflller cap,.to avoid ayacuum being created asthe fliquid contents leave. thetank. vvIfa -ivacuumwere created, obviouslyitwould prevent the iiow offthe ".llquid. mIhnoiigh;the.cap' 35 and the stem 25.. is .a vent; hole, 51 communicating .with the space inside the tank andthe. exterior.

"The" tube' 19 is. not necessaryto the proper .operation'ofthe 'closurev'alveskbut is usedA to lgive a simple and .accurate means of assembly in manu1a'cture."'1he omission ofthe tube as shown "byigdoes not prevent .the 'device from functioningas described.

Depending from. the.. opening `18 is shown a ,'screeng'guard .'50 which4 .completely encloses and fextends across'the .said .opening This screen ,"guardnvoldstheft of liquid from the 'main tank "by preventing theinsertion of a siphon tube.

i The'nperating offllling .both main and reserve vsupplyta'nks as well as of controlling `the deliveryot theireserve supply whenthe main supply f'haszbecome exhausted, now will be described. In J'illing the;ta`nksfthe stopperis first removed. This -\a;liows`access of theliquid to. tank 11.through ,'portland to*tank'15.through openings. 22 in tube 19. Asiliquidis poured into the tubethrough '.upper `end opening,` Y'the level gradually rises.

f.:70"'ln1^order that'the'air in tank 11 be not trapped,`

"Ihave provided' asmallA vent or series Yof vents 47.in"oneor more of'thewalls 12 and 13 near the i tgp 'ofthe"tankfwhileginftube 19 I have provided g 'similarvents `48-n'earitheftop; to allow theair in both tanksrtcrescape. A"Wlienfthejtanks thus have The two valves 23a and 23"of" '."drawuponthe contents of reserve tank 12. Natbeen filled, the stopper is replaced within the tube 19, the lugs 28 and 29 of the stopper being allowed to pass through the notches 30 and 3l, whereby, when the stopper is rotated, these lugs will ride over the inclined locking laces 2l and thus operate to force the stopper downwardly to cause its valves 23 and 23a to engage the respective seats 17 and 20 to close the port 18 and opening in the toppfitheiillerntube 19. -fAsiliquldfis used from main tanlll through outlet 49, Vthis tank may become completely emptied of said ilquid, as Ashown in Fig. 1, Without in any way having to urally, the user of the liquid becomes aware of "t'he'emptying 'ofthe tank 11 when the mecha- .to release ..the .stopper.toallow..itto-be vlifted to theposition shoWn.i1i,Fig..2-,wherein.the contents of ,tank12 will owthroughtube openings .22 vand s. port. 18, .finto tank.1.1,.thereby. placingthe .entire permitting access to lboth tanks. forlillingpurposes, closurermeans to close. lthe communicating opening Yand, the. exterior ripening, and. means rendering .said closure, means .operable only-simultaneously.

2. A reservekliquid. supply.;device, comprising, in` combination,.a main.. supply. .tankand agre- .serve supply. compartment within .-themain supply tank, said tank and compartmenthavingan exterior 'filler opening ,incommonand .afseparate ,opening7 k in 'the reserve compartmentfcommunicatlng with the main tank, closure. .means .for both openings and lmeans rendering said clo- Sure means `operable. only simultaneously.

3..A reserve liquid supply device comprising, .in combination, ,a main supply tank-and .a reserve supply tank, a tube connectingfthetanks, saidtubeoperr at one end into'themainsupply tank. .andlopen at the opposite end .exterior .the

tanks for'lling saidl tankasaid tube havingan` opening between said endsproviding communication with the reserve supply vtanka. valve closing 'the first mentioned end of the. tube, a separate valveV closing )the second mentionedend of the tube, and means' functioning to openand close both valves` simultaneously.

4. A reserve Aliquid. supply device comprising, in combination with a main supply tank and a reserve supply tank,.a tube connecting the tanks, said tube open at one end into the main supply tank and open at .the opposite end exterior .the tanks for lling said tanks, .said tube having communication between its ends withthe re- Serve supplytank and'means for opening. and closing both ends of the. tube simultaneously.

' tanks, a stopper to close the lling opening in the tube and the discharge opening of the tube to one of the tanks simultaneously, whereby opening of the lling opening will open the closed tank to permit transfer of its contents to the other tank.

6. A reserve liquid supply device comprising, in combination, a main supply tank and a reserve supply tank, a tube placing the interiors rof the tanks in communication with each other and open at one end to permit entrance of liqvuid. to both tanks, and a stopper for the tube,

said stopper closing the tube entrance and closing communication between the tanks, whereby the ymain tank may be emptied independently of the reserve tank and then the reserve tank allowed to empty through the tube into the main tank upon opening movement of the stopper.

7. A reserve liquid supply device comprising, a main supply tank anda reserve supply tank therein, said reserve tank having a lower vopening therein placing the interiors of the tanks in communication with each other, said tanks having a common filler opening therein, said openings being located in spacedrelationship with each other on a common axis, valves for closing said openings, whereby the main tank may be emptied independently of the reserve tank and the reserve tank allowed to empty through its lower opening into the main tank upon the elevation of both valves from their respective seats and means extending between said valves for simultaneous movement thereof.` l

8. A reserve liquid supply device comprising, in combination, a main supply tank and a reserve supply tank therein, said main tank having a. filler opening therein exterior of the tanks, said reserve tank having an` opening therein placing the interiors of the tanks in communication with each other, sealing means for the two openings, means extending between the sealing means whereby the openings are simultaneously sealed or unsealed, and guide means to position said sealing means relatively to the openings.

' 9. A reserve liquid supply device comprising,

in combination, a main supply tank and a-reserve supply tank, a tube with perforated side walls connecting the tanks, said tube being open at both ends one end of the tube extending into the main supply tank and the opposite end extending exterior the tanks, for lling said tanks the perforations of the side walls providing communication in between said ends with the reserve supply tank, a Valve closing the first mentioned end of the tube, a separate valve closing the second mentioned end of the tube, and means functioning to open and close both valves simultaneously.

10. A reserve liquid supply device comprising, in combination, a main supply tank, a partition interior the main tank forming a reserve compartment therein, an opening in the partition providing communication between the main tank and the reserve compartment, a ller opening into the main tank a closure associated with each of said openings and means, extending between the closures, whereby said closures close said openings approximately simultaneously.

11. In a reserve supply device, two tanks, one of said tanks having` a lling opening, a second opening below said filling opening` in the same tank means including said second opening providing inter-communication between said tanks, closure means for the openings, and means extending between said closure means whereby closing of said openings byfsaid closure means is controlled approximately simultaneously.

Y GLEN A. JOHNSON. 

